2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Grand Vitara years
- About as many complaints as other years 8th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara. That ranks 8th out of 15 Grand Vitara model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is vehicle speed control (12 complaints, 41%), typically at around 98,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 29owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 41% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 8 | 28% | 48,400 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 10% | 64,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 7% | 6,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 3% | 15,100 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 3% | 3,322 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 3% | 18 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 3% | 186,789 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 3% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 3% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 3% | 50,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 16-inch wheels, the front brake discs may break under severe driving conditions. The breakage can occur in conditions where the vehicle is driven on a regular basis on extremely steep paved down-slopes while continuously applying the brakes.
Risk: The front brakes may become inoperative and the vehicle may pull to one side. This could result in a crash without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front brake discs on these vehicles. The recall began on november 10, 2005. These vehicles are located on st. Thomas island (virgin islands). Owners may contact suzuki del caribe at 787-622-0600.
Fuel system, gasoline
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, under ambient temperatures below -25 degrees celsius, moisture can freeze in the fuel pressure regulator. As a result, fuel system pressure may increase at the time of engine start up, causing fuel loss at the fuel pipe/fuel hose connection.
Risk: Fuel loss in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pressure regulator, the fuel deliver hose and replace the hose clamp with an improved clamp. The recall began on september 29, 2004. Owners should contact suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
Vehicle speed control:cables
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, the accelerator cable casing cap that is attached to the vehicle firewall can crack due to extended exposure to forces from the accelerator cable and insufficient long-term durability of the plastic casing cap. If the casing cap becomes cracked, movement of the inner accelerator cable through the cap can cause the inner accelerator cable to become frayed.
Risk: If the inner accelerator cable becomes frayed, it can stick during vehicle operation. In the case where an accelerator cable sticks, the driver could have difficulty controlling vehicle speed, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the accelerator cable, which includes the plastic casing cap. Owner notification began on january 5, 2004. Owners should contact suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
Visibility:windshield
Problem: Certain passenger (111 my 2002 esteem, 777 my 2002 aerio, 2,368 my 2003 aerio) and sport utility (324 my 2002 grand vitara, 274 my 2003 grand vitara, 684 my 2002 grand vitara xl-7, and 781 my 2003 grand vitara xl-7) vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, 'windshield mounting." the windshield may not be properly secured to the vehicle body due to insufficient adhesion between the paint applied during the second-stage painting process and the paint applied during final-stage painting.
Risk: If the windshield is not properly secured, it may separate from the vehicle during a crash which could result in the ejection of unbelted occupants, increasing the risk of severe injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles. Vehicles that are found to have insufficient paint adhesion will either have the problem remedied by repainting, or will be replaced, or repurchased and destroyed. Owner notification began on july 8, 2003. Owners should contact suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Sometimes it want start at all
This complaint is related to an existing recall on my 2003 suzuki grand vitara. While driving two days ago, the throttle cable became stuck and the vehicle would not stop accelerating. I was ultimately able to pull the vehicle off the road and turn it off. Afterward, i discovered an open recall for…
My gas cover fell off my car do to the latch holding it on. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 suzuki grand vitara. The contact experienced difficulty starting the vehicle. He discovered that the battery cable was grounding out against the body of the vehicle, which caused the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle is unsafe due to the current recalls on the…
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 suzuki grand vitara. The vehicle is experiencing fuel loss in the ignition source. Whenever the contact attempts to turn the ignition, the vehicle will not start. She took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that fuel was not entering the ignition, causing a…
Other Suzuki Grand Vitara years
← 2002 Grand Vitara · 2004 Grand Vitara →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Grand Vitara | 4 | 2 |
| 2012 Grand Vitara | 13 | 2 |
| 2011 Grand Vitara | 11 | 4 |
| 2010 Grand Vitara | 20 | 5 |
| 2009 Grand Vitara | 14 | 4 |
| 2008 Grand Vitara | 42 | 2 |
| 2007 Grand Vitara | 58 | 3 |
| 2006 Grand Vitara | 161 | 6 |
| 2005 Grand Vitara | 1 | 1 |
| 2004 Grand Vitara | 8 | 2 |
| 2003 | 29 | 4 |
| 2002 Grand Vitara | 47 | 4 |
| 2001 Grand Vitara | 38 | 5 |
| 2000 Grand Vitara | 85 | 4 |
| 1999 Grand Vitara | 108 | 4 |
See all Suzuki Grand Vitara problems by year, every Suzuki model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Owners most often report vehicle speed control, electrical system, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, vehicle speed control, accounts for 12 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Grand Vitara model years, the 2003 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.